What is a Groninger Blaarkop cow? (Blister head)

The Groninger Blaarkop (English: Blister Head), as the name suggests, originates from the province of Groningen and is a truly Dutch breed of cattle. In addition to Groningen, this breed can also be found in Utrecht and Leiden, among other places. The cowhide of the Groninger Blaarkop is usually black or red (brown) with a white head, white underbelly, and white legs. Around the eyes, the Blaarkop has black or red (brown) spots called “blisters.” Of all Blaarkops, approximately 60% are red-and-white and 40% are black-and-white.

What are the characteristics of the Groninger Blaarkop cow?

The Groninger Blaarkop is a well-built breed with a horned head and strong legs. With a friendly disposition and little to no susceptibility to disease, these animals can be kept outdoors almost year-round. As a result, they are well-suited for sustainable agriculture and natural grazing projects.

The bulls are about 1.45 to 1.50 meters high and weigh ±800 kilograms. The cows are somewhat smaller, they are about 1.35 to 1.40 meters high and weigh ±600 kilograms. And a Blaarkop calf weighs about 35 kilograms at birth. The cows are used for the production of milk and supply about 6000 to 7000 kilograms of milk per year. The milk given by these cows has a fat percentage of 4.35% and a protein percentage of 3.6%. The Groninger Blaar heads also have a good fertility and calve easily.

The History of the Groninger Blaarkop

Since the Middle Ages (year 500 to 1500) Groninger Blaarkoppen have been running around. However, from the beginning of the last century (year 1901 to 2000) the breed was increasingly supplanted by imports of foreign cattle. In 1902, the Dutch Cattle Studbook (NRS) distinguished the black blister and the black white heads. Although there were also red (brown) colored Groninger Blaar heads the NRS did not want to recognize them. In 1931 both the black and red ones were recognized.

Around 1970 to 1980, there were approximately 22 million cows in the Netherlands, of which only 1% were Groninger Blaarkops. Since then, the number of Blaarkops has declined; by 1998, there were only about 10,000 Blaarkops remaining. Various groups of breeders, dairy farmers, and hobby farmers are working to preserve the breed. Today, the breed is classified as a rare domestic animal.

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